Leeds Rhinos: Mac’s happy to head the pack

New Super League leaders Leeds Rhinos will “bask” in being top of the table, but boss Brian McDermott admits they still need to improve.

New Super League leaders Leeds Rhinos will “bask” in being top of the table, but boss Brian McDermott admits they still need to improve.

Rhinos made it six games without defeat when they thrashed London Broncos 54-6 at Headingley Carnegie last night. Their fifth win of the year lifted them a point clear of St Helens and Castleford Tigers, who both play their game in hand tomorrow.

McDermott – who rested captain Kevin Sinfield and winger Tom Briscoe – said: “We are pleased to be top of the table.

“We will bask in that sunshine for 24 hours at least.

“I am pleased where we’re at and if you said that at this stage of the season we’d have won five and drawn one, I would be happy.

“But we’re not the finished article at all.

“If we were playing in a final tomorrow we would not be ready.

“At this stage we are happy, but there’s a long way to go.”

McDermott said Rhinos came through injury free and he was happy with 19-year-old debutant forward Rob Mulhern and fellow teenager Elliot Minchella, who made only his second senior appearance for Leeds.

“I thought they both did well,” he said.

“Rob handled it and didn’t look out of place at all.

“We know what quality Elliot has got and he didn’t look out of place either.

“The young fellas in particular did really well.

“Stevie Ward looked decent in the left-centre in place of Joel Moon, so that was a positive.”

Rhinos now move on to a clash with Saints at Langtree Park next Friday.

McDermott said: “We’re looking forward to that. it is a big game, Saints have a cracking team and what a contest that will be.”